A supply manager is serving on a large-scale project team in another country.

Ethical Dilemma: The offer to expedite approval in exchange for a $500 cash payment is clearly a bribe, which poses an ethical and legal dilemma for the supply manager.

Declining the Bribe: The most appropriate action is to decline the payment, as participating in bribery violates ethical standards and legal regulations.

Internal Reporting: Reporting the incident to the appropriate authorities within the company ensures that the issue is handled according to the company’s policies and legal requirements.

Maintaining Integrity: This course of action maintains the supply manager’s integrity and protects the company from potential legal and reputational risks associated with bribery.

References: Ethical guidelines and anti-bribery laws, such as the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) and the UK Bribery Act, emphasize the importance of rejecting bribes and reporting such incidents to maintain ethical business practices.